Affordable

Natural gas is the most affordable option for meeting Ontario's growing energy needs.

Abundant supplies equal low prices

Access to new, massive deposits of natural gas in North America has translated into affordable natural gas prices for consumers. In fact, natural gas prices are at their lowest level in a decade, and experts predict that prices will remain affordable until at least 2025.

The typical Ontario homeowner has spent $4001 less on natural gas in 2012 than they did just five years ago. The savings are even greater for businesses and industry that use more gas. This translates into average annual energy savings of an astounding
$4 billion2 dollars for Ontario households and industry.

And, when it comes to home and water heating in Ontario, natural gas has been on average less than half the cost of electricity and oil for home and water heating over the last five years. Today heating with natural gas costs about 70 per cent less than electricity and oil.2

1 Based on comparison of average annual bills for typical residential customers using 2,600 cubic metres of natural gas in Union Gas and Enbridge Gas Distribution service areas.

Savings based on standard home in the Union Gas service area with four people per home, mid-to-high-efficiency equipment and fuel rates at Oct. 2012 (natural gas $0.2046 per m3, electricity $0.1263 per kWh, fuel oil $1.0124 per litre, propane $0.7770 per litre).

Switching to natural gas could save homeowners about $1,700 per year or more on home and water heating. And businesses would save even more.

In fact, Canadians are spending less on their natural gas bill today. Statistics Canada shows that natural gas represents only one per cent of the total cost of the typical basket of goods and services an average Canadian household consumes – down 10 per cent from 2009.

Clean

Using natural gas in your home, to generate electricity, power our industries and in other applications offers a number of significant environmental benefits.

A Smaller Carbon Footprint

Natural gas is the cleanest of the conventional fuels, producing only about 45 per cent of the emissions of coal and oil*. It can substantially reduce Ontario’s carbon footprint and is the ideal complement to intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar for power generation. Using natural gas in place of coal or oil as an energy source only makes sense in the battle against global climate change.

Less Acid Rain

A Smaller Footprint

Production of natural gas needs the smallest footprint of any energy source. Wind and solar require six acres to produce enough electricity to serve 1,000 households a year. That’s 20 times more than what natural gas needs.

Put simply, using natural gas rather than coal or oil will further improve the quality of the air we breathe, while reducing our contribution to climate change.

There have been some very significant changes taking place in the natural gas market over the last four to five years. Right now, we’re in the midst of a natural gas renaissance that is being driven largely by an advancement of horizontal drilling technology that has allowed the development of natural gas from shale formations.

There’s now over 150 years worth of continental supply between Canada and the U.S. alone, and, as a result, natural gas prices have declined significantly. Only a few years ago, prices were in the $7 to $8/GJ range, compared to prices today which are around $3/GJ. As a result, consumers, business and industry are paying some of the lowest prices for natural gas in the last decade – a huge economic “home field” advantage.

The current low price environment is directly related to the development of shale gas reserves, and with a very robust supply outlook, prices are expected to remain very affordable and stable for many years to come.

What This Means For Ontario

Ontario has access to these resources and needs to take the steps necessary to fully embrace and promote the benefits of this extraordinary opportunity for its economy.

The following Ontario industries stand to benefit most from the combination of abundant, affordable and clean natural gas supplies that are already being embraced in surrounding jurisdictions like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York:

Power Generation

Natural gas is the second largest source of electricity supply in Ontario’s energy mix, and it will continue to play an important role as the province works toward its goal of removing all coal from the supply mix. With low fuel costs, lower carbon emissions and lower capital investment costs, natural gas can affordably and reliably replace coal power generation while backing up renewable power and backstopping nuclear shutdowns, refurbishments and long lead times needed for new nuclear development.

Mining

Northern Ontario has large deposits of rare minerals like gold and chromite. These minerals have increased in price recently and these prices are expected to remain high in the near future. Consequently it has become economical to mine these deposits which has made this a major area for mining growth. Natural gas has a number of significant benefits as energy for both mining and processing. It’s affordable, significantly cleaner than fuel oil or diesel, reliable, fast to build, and can be used to generate electricity or to directly power industrial processes.

Transportation

Low natural gas prices paired with higher oil and gasoline prices have renewed interest in liquefied (LNG) and compressed (CNG) natural gas as a transportation fuel. This presents opportunities in the citing of LNG production facilities in Ontario.

Petrochemical

Multi-billion dollar investments are being made in new plants, expansion of existing facilities and re-opening shuttered plant in the U.S. Similarly, Ontario based petrochemical businesses in areas like Sarnia can access natural gas liquids from Marcellus (NY) and Utica (NY) to drive new opportunities.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer plants, which use natural gas as a raw material, are looking once again to be located in North America to take advantage of current and projected low natural gas prices. These are savings that could be passed on to farmers which could then reduce the cost of food and ethanol production.

Greenhouses

Growth in the number and size of greenhouses in Ontario is being encouraged by affordable and stable natural gas prices.

Steel

Increased gas exploration is creating demand for steel products including pipes, tubes and joints used in gas drilling equipment. At the same time, natural gas is replacing coal in the steel industry’s blast furnaces, reducing operating costs. Where natural gas is already feeding these furnaces, incredible savings are being realized and passed on in the prices of the many things steel is used for.

New Communities

Greater access to natural gas will be a huge economic win for Ontarians. Delivering the benefits of affordable and clean natural gas to new communities currently not served provides superb value by allowing more households and businesses to switch to natural gas from electricity.

Natural gas can help build a brighter future for Ontario. It’s time for all of us to seize the opportunities that are out there.

Shale Gas

Natural gas from shale formations refers to gas that is trapped naturally within very fine sedimentary rocks called shale or mudstone.

Millions of years ago mud and silt that contained plant and animal debris washed into ancient oceans and lakes. Over time, shale and mudstone rock formed and the organic material generated oil and gas. The oil and gas largely migrated into sandstones and limestones, forming conventional oil and gas reservoirs. The natural gas that stayed within the shale rock is referred to as shale gas.

A drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is used to unlock this gas by creating tiny fractures that allow the gas to flow to the surface through wells. This process has been used since the 1950s.

Shale gas plays an important role in lowering customers’ gas bills by increasing available supply.

Shale gas is expected to represent a large portion of future natural gas production in North America as it now accounts for more than 50% of new exploration. Ontario is fortunate to be located close to two large shale gas basins – Marcellus and Utica.

There has been some controversy about the method of extraction (fracking) used to obtain shale gas. Industry, regulators, governments and NGOs are working collaboratively to ensure that the extraction process is clearly understood. ONGA supports the development and continuous improvement of existing regulations to ensure the protection of the environment. It is paramount that natural habitats remain undisturbed at every stage of the process.

Fracking and drinking water

When done properly fracking has no effect on our drinking water. Most natural-gas producing shale rock formations are 3000 to 4500 metres underground. Domestic use water aquifers are usually less than 300 meters underground. Since there is no natural physical path between the shale formations and the aquifers it is not possible for fresh water to be contaminated through fracking. As well, groundwater is protected during drilling through proper well-bore design: a combination of a protective casing and cement. Stringent provincial, state and territorial regulations are in place to prevent groundwater contamination during the fracking process.

Fracking and water use

Fracking of a single well consumes 11 to 19 million litres of water, depending on specific geology and fracturing requirements. However, when compared with how much water it takes to produce other forms of energy, fracking requires significantly less water. Oil, coal, nuclear and biofuels all use significantly more water in the production process. In addition, the sourcing and use of water is heavily regulated.

Industry is developing advancements in technologies that are greatly reducing water use rates, a development that makes natural gas from shale formations even more attractive.

Fracking and chemicals

Fracking fluid (used to create pressure to produce mini fractures in the shale rock) is typically comprised of more than 99.5% water and sand, and 0.5% chemicals. Typical fracture treatment will use 3 to 12 additive chemicals, depending on the characteristic of the water and the shale formation being fractured. Many of those chemicals are present in common household commercial applications. Those that are considered adverse are used in extremely low concentration.

Fracking and land use

Shale gas production requires a drastically smaller land-use footprint than conventional natural gas drilling and other forms of energy production, such as solar and wind power. This is possible due to the use of sub surface horizontal drilling in combination with vertical drilling. This new horizontal drilling technology has allowed for up to 20 horizontal wells to be drilled in a single vertical well which greatly reduces the on surface land-use footprint. Vertical drilling is a well-established practice and millions of wells have been safely drilled through aquifers with no significant issues.

Fracking and seismic activity

Just as other industrial activities cause noise or vibrations, hydraulic fracturing can cause seismic activity. However, the intensity of seismic activity of fracking is typically 100,000 times less than levels detectable by human beings. A remote possibility of a relatively minor seismic event does exist depending on an areas specific geology. To date nothing has registered on the Richter scale. Industry uses real time microseismic monitoring technology to monitor seismic activity instantly on site.

Toronto ON, December 14, 2016—As temperatures continue to drop, a new poll from Pollara Strategic Insights reveals Ontarians overwhelmingly view natural gas as the most reliable and capable energy source for heating their homes.

The study, which was commissioned by the Ontario Natural Gas Alliance (ONGA), found 83 per cent of Ontarians give natural gas top marks on reliability and capability when it comes to heating their homes.

Other key highlights from the report include:

Two-thirds (67 per cent) would choose natural gas as the energy source for their heating system right now—by far the leading choice among Ontarians.

Over 90 per cent of Ontarians view cost, reliability and capability as important when choosing a home heating source.

Natural gas received far higher and intense positive ratings on measures of reliability, cost, environment impact and capability than any other home heating source.

“Ontario residents view natural gas as an affordable and reliable way to heat their homes during our harsh winters,” says ONGA spokesperson Jamie Ellerton. “By readily allowing home-owners to adjust their thermostats no matter how cold it is outside, natural gas keeps Ontarians warm when they need it most.”

Natural gas is connected directly to the home via underground pipelines. Unlike other energy sources, winter storms won’t prevent the abundant supply of natural gas from reaching Ontario homes. Supply is so abundant in North America, there is enough to last well beyond the next 100 years.

“Natural gas is also the most affordable source of energy for Ontario homes and businesses, costing significantly less than electricity, propane or oil,” says Ellerton. “Over the past two winters, homeowners have saved between $1,700 and $2,200 a year by using natural gas instead of electricity, oil or propane for heat and hot water.”

The Ontario Natural Gas Alliance (ONGA) is a partnership between two of Ontario’s leading natural gas distribution companies, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas. ONGA was created to help the public understand the vital role natural gas can play in Ontario’s future- forward clean energy mix. ONGA is dedicated to education around the many positive attributes of natural gas, including its affordability, cleanliness and potential to fuel an economic revitalization that will create jobs and expand Ontario’s economy. For more information, please visit: www.cleanandaffordable.ca.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jamie Ellerton, please contact:

Just because summer is officially over doesn’t mean that the joys of barbecuing have to end, especially when you’ve got natural gas as your fuel source. ONGA is pleased to partner with celebrity chef Rob Rainford, to bring barbecue enthusiasts a raft of fall-inspired recipes that showcase the best of seasonal ingredients available in Ontario. Whether it’s a new take on grilling your salad, or spicing your New York striploin with a coffee-based rub, Chef Rainford’s recipes will have you grilling well into the fall–and even year round. Barbecuing with natural gas allows for the precise temperature control required of many recipes, and its reliability and affordability make it a gold standard fuel source for barbecue enthusiasts everywhere. See below for Chef’s mouth-watering recipes, and forget about packing away that grill cover!

Cut the Ontario pork loin into 1- to 1 n-inch (2.5 to 4 cm) chunks, removing and discarding any large pieces of fat. Add the chunks of pork to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly with the rub. Add just enough oil to lightly coat the meat and mix well. Thread the chunks onto the skewers, leaving a little room between each chunk. Set aside at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before grilling.

Fire up your natural gas grill and prep the grill for cooking over indirect heat. You need a medium-high temperature of around 350°F (180°C) to grill the kabobs.

In a food processor, finely chop the basil, parsley, anchovy fillets and garlic. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and let the machine run until the sauce is well combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.

Brush the cooking grate clean and brush with canola oil. Grill the skewers over direct high heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until cooked to your desired doneness, turning once or twice and swapping the positions of the skewers for even cooking. Serve warm with the sauce.

Makes 8 servings

Grilled Lemon and Orange Zest Chicken

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup (125 mL) olive oil

2 Tbsp (30 mL) finely grated lemon zest

4 Tbsp (60 mL) fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp (30 mL) finely grated orange zest

4 Tbsp (60 mL) fresh orange juice

2 Tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped fresh rosemary

2 Tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped fresh thyme

4 cloves garlic, finely grated

2 chickens, each about 4lbs (1.8kg), cut in half through the breast and backbone

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 Tbsp (30ml) finely chopped parsley

½ tsp (2ml) dried red chili flakes

The Rainford Method:

Whisk together the oil, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, rosemary and thyme until well combined. Reserve half of the mixture for the following day.

Place remaining citrus mixture, chicken and garlic in a very large resealable plastic bag. Give it a good massage through the bag and marinate in the fridge overnight.

Preheat your natural gas grill for cooking over indirect heat. You need a medium-high temperature of around 350°F (180°C) to grill the chicken.

Remove the chicken from the marinade, discarding the used marinade. Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste.

Sear the chicken halves by placing them skin-side down on the hot side of the grill. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Turn each half through a quarter turn (from the 12 o’clock position to 3 o’clock). Cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the skin is golden brown.

Flip each half over and move to the cooler side of the grill. Cook for 40 to 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F (76°C) and the juices run clear. Baste the chicken during the last 5 minutes of cooking with the reserved citrus mixture.

Remove the chicken halves from the grill and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before carving.

Makes 8 servings

New York Strip Steak

Rub Ingredients:

4 Tbsp (60 mL) extra finely ground Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

4 Tbsp (60 mL) packed brown sugar

1⁄2 tsp (2 mL) ground allspice

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

The Rainford Method:

Combine the coffee, brown sugar, allspice and salt and pepper to taste. Pat the rub on both sides of each steak.

Prep the grill for cooking over indirect heat. You need a medium-high temperature of around 350°F (180°C) to grill the steaks. For natural gas grills, preheat the grill to medium-high then turn off one burner to achieve indirect heat.

Grease the grate with canola oil. Place the steaks on the grill over direct heat. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until well marked. Move the steaks to the cooler part of the grill and close the lid. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare, or to desired doneness.

Remove the steaks from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Beef and Veal Kofta

Ingredients:

3⁄4 lb (375 g) ground beef

1⁄4 lb (125 g) ground veal

1 large onion, finely grated

1⁄4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped fresh parsley 1 egg

1 Tbsp (15 mL) extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, finely grated

1 Tbsp (15 mL) ground allspice

1 1⁄2 tsp (7.5 mL) kosher salt

2 tsp (10 mL) freshly cracked black pepper Canola oil for greasing

The Rainford Method:

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until well combined.

Place mixture in a non-reactive bowl and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Take the mixture out of the bag and form into eight even-size portions, shaped like mini footballs (as in American football, not soccer). Run a skewer widthwise through each kofta.

Preheat your natural gas grill. You need a medium-high grilling temp of around 350°F (180°C). Prep the grill for cooking over direct heat.

Drizzle a small amount of the vinaigrette over the romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Place the lettuce on the grill, cut sides down. Grill for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until lightly charred. Remove from the grill, and place on a serving platter.

Toss the avocados and tomatoes with a small amount of the remaining vinaigrette in the same bowl. Place on the grill, arranging the avocados skin-side up. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until warm and slightly softened.

Remove from the grill. Scatter the tomatoes over the lettuce. Scoop the avocado flesh out of the skin. Slice the avocado flesh and scatter over the lettuce.

Top the salad with Parmesan shavings. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and sprinkle with basil.

Combine all the ingredients for the wet rub in a food processor and process until a paste forms. Rub the paste all over the veal chops.

Two to 4 hours before you get to the grill, do yourself a favor and put the veal in a re-sealable plastic bag and let it hang out in the fridge. Remember because the acid component is low you don’t have to worry about your meat becoming tough because of the marinade.

Pull the veal chops out of the fridge and them bring to room temperature before grilling. This is an important step because you want the internal temperature of the meat to be at the temperature of the outside of the meat to ensure even cooking.

If you want to apply a mop to the veal chops while they smoke, stir together the red wine, stock and olive oil in a small bowl.

You need a low temperature of around 200 to 220°F (93 to 105°C) to smoke the veal chops. For natural gas grills, preheat the grill to low then turn off one burner to achieve indirect heat. Oil the grate with canola oil.

Once the grill is heated, make a smoke pouch by placing two parts wet and one part dry wood chips in a foil pouch. Put pouch directly on the heated side of the natural gas grill or into the smoker box that comes with most grills these days. Allow to smoke and then place veal on the cooler side of the grill.

The veal chops will take 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours to smoke. If you’re using the mop, brush it on the veal chops every 30 minutes during smoking, using a fresh sprig of sage each time. Remember, you don’t have to cook the veal chops until they’re well done; medium-rare (an internal temperature of 135°F/57°C) is fine.

As soon as the chops have reached the internal temperature you like, take them off the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings

Grilled Asaparagus

Ingredients:

2 lb (1 kg) asparagus

1 Tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6 Tbsp (90 mL) unsalted butter

1⁄4 cup (60 mL) vegetable broth

3 Tbsp (45 mL) finely chopped fresh sage

1 wedge Parmesan cheese

The Rainford Method:

Snap the woody ends off the asparagus and discard. Run a vegetable peeler down the asparagus stalks to remove the skin. Toss the asparagus with the oil and salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat your natural gas grill. You need a medium-high grilling temp of around 350°F (180°C). Prep the grill for cooking over direct heat.

Place the asparagus on the grill and cook, turning often, for 5 minutes or until tender and well-marked.

Set a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the white foam has evenly browned. Add the vegetable broth and sage, then simmer until the mixture has reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange the grilled asparagus on a platter and pour the butter sauce over the top. Shave a generous amount of Parmesan from the wedge and scatter over the asparagus.

Place the potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water and add salt to taste. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes or until al dente. Drain well and arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, whisk the olive oil with the wine, paprika, parsley, garlic, basil and oregano in a large bowl until well combined. Add the potatoes and toss with the oil mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat your natural gas grill. You need a medium-low grilling temp of around 300°F (150°C). Prep the grill for cooking over direct heat. Oil the grate with canola oil.

Place the potatoes on the grill and cook, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes or until well-marked and fork tender.

Makes 8 servings

Late Harvest Green Bean Salad

Ingredients:

3⁄4 lb (375 g) green beans, trimmed

3⁄4 lb (375 g) yellow beans, trimmed

Kosher salt to taste

3 Tbsp (45 mL) olive oil

2 tsp (10 mL) balsamic vinegar

2 tsp (10 mL) red wine vinegar

1 tsp (5 mL) Dijon mustard

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 large bunches of salad greens, such as frisée, washed and dried

6 green onions, thinly sliced

3 Tbsp (45 mL) finely chopped fresh oregano

The Rainford Method:

Place the beans in a large pot of well-salted, boiling water for 3–4 minutes or until tender-crisp. Reserve 1⁄4 cup (60 mL) of the blanching water, then drain the beans and immediately plunge them into ice water.

The report of the Government of Ontario’s proposal to spend $1.32 Billion to switch homes heated by natural gas to electric heating is ill-conceived and prohibitively expensive.

The Ontario Natural Gas Alliance (ONGA) is a partner in Ontario’s low carbon future that combats climate change. The industry has made collaborative and cost-effective proposals to meet Ontario’s emission reduction targets including increased conservation spending, moving to more renewable natural gas, and using natural gas in medium- and heavy-duty trucking. However, using Cap and Trade proceeds to switch Ontarians to electric heat would be disruptive and will not allow us to achieve our emission reduction goals.

Ontarians should continue to have choice, and not be forced to adapt a single electric solution for home heating—one that will entail expensive equipment costs upfront and is six times more expensive to operate than natural gas.

Bottom line: Ontario households will pay up to $3,000 more each and every year to heat their homes if this policy proceeds.

We hear a lot in the news about the need to create jobs and fight climate change. Although the problem is well identified, you may be left wondering what is happening across the province that provides solutions. Let me introduce you to Markham District Energy (MDE).

MDE relies on clean natural gas to provide heating, cooling, and electricity in Markham with unrivalled reliability. This provides a competitive advantage to the community, fosters new business opportunities, and at the same time reduces emissions to combat climate change. The City of Markham in part credits the founding of Markham District Energy with bringing major employers like IBM to the community. Additionally, the recent growth of Downtown Markham, a new, residential and commercial development in the heart of the city, was enabled in part because of existing natural gas and district energy infrastructure.

This advanced network means incredible reliability for Markham District Energy customers. Even during the worst storms and inclement weather customers have the peace of mind to focus on what they do best — whether it is providing a strong education, best-in-class hospitality, or leading healthcare services.

The Benefit

Markham District Energy customers and the broader community benefit in two key ways: Natural gas prices are competitive and stable due to an existing strong supply and existing distribution infrastructure and using a district energy system reduces overall emissions. In 2015 alone, MDE reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Markham by 17,000 tonnes — the equivalent of taking nearly 4,000 cars off the road. As more in the community recognize district energy’s potential the impact can be even greater.

The Opportunity

It is great to see local leaders like Mayor Scarpitti and Markham Stouffville Hospital’s Jo-anne Marr champion the important role that natural gas is playing in their community.

Richard Cunningham at the Markham Board of Trade believes the community should look to expand MDE to encourage business growth. ONGA agrees and we are proud to be a part of the solution.

Watch the video and let us know what you think on Twitter at @NaturalGas_ON or you can reach me @jellerton.

Natural gas is one of the most versatile, reliable, clean and affordable sources of energy available in Ontario. For this reason and more, I’m proud to join the team at the Ontario Natural Gas Alliance (ONGA) as spokesperson.

Challenges that are top of mind to ONGA members are expanding access to natural gas access to reduce energy bills overall, and ensure the continued success of Ontario’s agriculture sector. And of course, helping confront the challenge of climate change.

Ontario has millions of existing natural gas distribution customers, ranging from home owners to electricity generation facilities, small businesses, public transportation systems, farms and agri-businesses, a variety of industrial consumers and legions of backyard barbeque enthusiasts. What each of these segments have in common is that they enjoy access to a reliable supply of clean and affordable natural gas. Unfortunately, not all Ontarians enjoy access to natural gas, and this puts some people at a competitive and economic disadvantage.

I am pleased to join an organization like ONGA that treats the expansion of natural gas distribution service in Ontario for what it is – an important public policy measure. It can increase economic growth, foster agricultural competiveness and reduce energy bills in the winter months, especially when compared to electricity for home-heating. In fact, ONGA has done great work highlighting the benefits of natural gas expansion in Red Lake, Ontario and the need for access for agri-business in Bruce County. As spokesperson for ONGA, I want to keep highlighting the need for increased access to natural gas distribution – it is too important for our economy to ignore.

For much of the past year, climate change has been front and centre in the news. The government of Ontario has introduced legislation that would, if passed, create a cap-and-trade system and join Ontario with the Western Climate Initiative.

Everyone at ONGA can agree on one thing: we are long passed the time to debate the merits of taking action to confront climate change and that now is the time to tackle the problem head-on. Having the resolve to confront climate change is one thing, but the approach must be constructive and done in a meaningful way that recognizes Ontario is already a leader in this fight.

The closure of coal-fired power plants dramatically reduced emissions in Ontario –the largest climate change mitigation measure in North America to date. Just as natural gas played a major role reducing emission from electricity generation, natural gas is similarly positioned to reduce overall emissions in the transportation sector.

The transportation sector is by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the province today. The opportunity of shifting more of the sector to natural gas would be of tremendous benefit to Ontario’s environment and economy, something decision-makers should examine and an issue I look forward to sharing more about.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to speaking about the role that natural gas can play for Ontarians, for the benefit of our climate and our economy.

I also want to hear what you have to say. You can reach out to ONGA through this website, on Twitter (@NaturalGas_ON) or you can reach me directly here: @jellerton.